How To Do It - Scout Life magazine

Make a Weather Barometer

Make a barometer to give you a heads-up about weather conditions.

Build a Log Cabin Birdhouse

Attract birds to your backyard with this fun and stylish log cabin birdhouse.

Make a Twig Picture frame

You can build this picture frame with materials found around the house or yard.

How to Maintain Your Motor

Whether it's powering a sports car or a lawn mower or a go-cart, here's how to keep your engine running year after year.

Use an LED Light to Make a Firefly Lantern

Want a natural nightlight? Use an LED light to catch some fireflies and make a firefly lantern.

Make a Pencil Holder From Household Materials

Store pencils, markers and brushes in this handy DIY pencil holder.

Use Nature to Make 8 Unique Gifts for Mother’s Day

Show your mom just how great she is by making her a gift inspired by Mother Nature herself!

How to Make a Tetrahedral Kite

Learn to fly! Build one of these simple kites and reach for the skies.

How to Make a Classic Diamond-Shaped Kite

A diamond-shaped kite is easy to fly and will fly even in low wind speeds. Here's how to make one with newspaper.

Build a beanbag toss game

Recycle old pallets and pants pockets to make this fun lawn game.

How to Build a Little Free Library

Use recycled materials to make a tiny neighborhood library where people can borrow, return and/or donate books.

Make a Clock out of Flatware

Tell time with a homemade clock built with forks and spoons.

How to make a homemade Off-Shore Battle game

Charge up your power drill, sharpen that saw and make this cool custom-made Off-Shore Battle game.

How to Carve the Perfect Pumpkin

World-class pumpkin carver Farmer Mike shows you how to carve a creative jack-o'-lantern.

How to Make a Wooden Key Folder

Keep your keys organized with this handy wooden folder.

How to Make Twig Pencils

Twig pencils are fun, easy and cheap to make. And the expressions on your friends’ faces when you start scribbling with a stick will be writetious!

Build a Scout Law Ladder

This folding Scout Law ladder can be displayed at meetings, outings or any other Scouting events.

How to Make a Wooden Kazoo

Not only are kazoos fun to play, they're easy to build. Here's how to make one.

Build a recycled robot

Use recycled materials to make a GISMO 5 remote-controlled robot.

Make a Water Drop Microscope

With just a few common items from around the house, you can make a simple microscope that's straight out of history.

How to make a wooden periscope

Building a periscope is easier than you might think. Here are plans for a wooden periscope that is perfect for secret agent work.

Make a Leather Flag for Your Patrol or Den

Show off your knot-tying skills with this flag for your patrol, den, pack or troop.

How to Make Wooden Stilts

Stand taller with stilts. After an afternoon’s work, you’ll be able to walk around at least 12 inches taller than you are now. That’s a pretty fast growth spurt!

How to build a worm bed to start a small worm farm

Do you wish you could dig money out of the ground? Raising worms in a worm bed can be a lucrative business.

Make a cathedral box

Build a handy place to keep your keys, coins and other small stuff.

How to Make a Balloon-Powered Hovercraft

Make a fun flying vehicle with stuff found around your house.

How to Build a Ship in a Bottle

Something about a ship in a bottle doesn’t seem to fit. Oh, that’s it — the ship! Learn the secret to create your own ship in a bottle.

Make a pulp-and-bottle shelf

This project is a creative way to recycle materials and have an interesting and functional shelf.

How to build a wooden yo-yo

Build this classic toy and become a yo-yo expert.

How to Make Your Own Hiking Stick

Walking sticks make hiking more fun. Next time you go hiking, step out with a personal walking stick that you made yourself.

Make your own weather instruments

Learn more about weather and meteorology by completing these weather-related projects.

Make a can lantern

Put a used coffee or food can to good use by making this rustic lantern.

6 Homemade Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Show your dad he's the best on Father's Day, with a handmade gift. Here are 6 great homemade gift ideas to try.

Make a ring toss game

This ring toss game is perfect for a picnic, Scout meeting or just while hanging out with friends and family.

Make a flashlight holster for your belt

Don't be left in the dark. This leather holster keeps your flashlight handy.

Make a Solar Hot Dog Cooker

If you curve some aluminum foil just right, you can cook hot dogs with the sun's heat.

Make Your Own Minnow Trap Using a 2-Liter Bottle

Don't waste money buying bait. Gather your own! It's simple with this easy-to-make trap.

6 Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts

Show your mom she's the best with a handmade Mother's Day gift.

Make 3 simple-but-fun nail games

With some nails and plywood, make three different games and puzzles.

How to Make a ‘Fossil’ in One Hour

Turn a leaf into a treasure with this simple cement casting project. Display the "fossil" in your room or use it as a stepping-stone in the garden.

How to build a bird feeder

Step-by-step guide to building a bird feeder to help keep wintering and migrating birds well fed.

DIY Wooden Blinds

Step-by-step instructions to build DIY wooden blinds that look great.

How to make a camera-phone stabilizer

To take great smartphone photos, you need to hold your phone steady. This simple, easy-to-build smartphone stabilizer is one way to make sure your cellphone photos and videos will be shake-free.